Cue with solid core construction

Abstract

A pool cue includes a butt having: an elongate central butt core, extending uninterrupted from a rearmost end of the butt to a foremost end of the butt; one or more oversleeves arranged about the central butt core and abutting one another; and a forward threaded butt connector positioned on the foremost end of the butt, the forward threaded butt connector operable to mate with a corresponding threaded shaft connector of a cue shaft. A shaft has: an elongate shaft sleeve, extending from a rearmost end of the shaft to a foremost end of the shaft; an elongate central shaft core, extending uninterrupted from the rearmost end of the shaft to the foremost end of the shaft; and a rearward threaded shaft connector positioned on the rearmost end of the shaft, the rearward threaded shaft connector operable to mate with the threaded butt connector.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pool cue, comprising:
 a butt, including:
 an elongate central butt core formed of phenolic and having threads formed in a forward end thereof, the elongate central butt core extending uninterrupted from a rearmost end of the butt to a foremost end of the butt; 
 a plurality of oversleeves arranged about the central butt core and abutted adjacent one another; 
 a forward threaded butt connector inserted within the threads formed in the elongate central butt core, the forward threaded butt connector operable to mate with a corresponding threaded shaft connector of a cue shaft; and 
 
 a shaft, including:
 an elongate shaft sleeve, extending from a rearmost end of the shaft to a foremost end of the shaft; 
 an elongate central shaft core, formed of phenolic and extending uninterrupted from the rearmost end of the shaft to the foremost end of the shaft; 
 a rearward threaded shaft connector positioned on the rearmost end of the shaft, the rearward threaded shaft connector including a threaded shaft insert installed within the elongate shaft sleeve at the rearmost end of the elongate shaft sleeve, the elongate central shaft core being thereby intimately coupled to the threaded shaft insert within the shaft sleeve, the threaded shaft insert being operable to mate with the threaded butt connector; and 
 a ferrule, extending over or into the elongate central shaft core at the foremost end of the shaft, the ferrule being formed of phenolic and being operable to receive a playing tip; 
 
 the elongate central shaft core and the elongate central butt core each being an integral, continuous piece of material. 
 
     
     
       2. The cue of  claim 1 , further comprising a series of ferrule threads formed on or in the forward end of the elongate central shaft core and wherein the ferrule is threadably engaged with the elongate central shaft core. 
     
     
       3. The cue of  claim 1 , wherein the forward threaded butt connector includes a threaded pin fitted directly within the internal threads formed in the foreward end of the elongate central butt core. 
     
     
       4. The cue of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded pin is formed from phenolic.